Proseminar on Corporate Power and Capital in the U.S. Health System

Undergraduate / Graduate

This course examines the US health system through interdisciplinary perspectives, focusing on the interplay between corporate power, capital, and health. Topics include the emergence of modern corporations, the privatization of health services, the commodification of health products, the monetization of health data, and the consolidation of health care markets. The course also explores key tensions in contemporary health systems, including the balance between innovation and affordability, profit motives and equitable access, and corporate interests and public health priorities. Readings draw from economic sociology, political science, health economics, public health, and the history of economic thought. This course aims to offer fresh perspectives to students interested in public health, medicine, health care management, and policy.